|
VA Watchdog Stuff
cups, hats, shirts
click here to
support the site
Be sure to get all four
VA Watchdog dot Org
RSS feeds --
Daily VA
News Flashes
House CVA
Veterans' News
Senate CVA
Veterans' News
VA Press
Releases
Download
your
free copy of the
2007 VA benefits
handbook here...
|
Social Bookmarking
VA Agrees with Key Points about PTSD Treatment
October 18, 2007
In New Institute of Medicine Report
WASHINGTON – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today agreed with a
new Institute of Medicine (IOM) report finding exposure-based therapies
for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be
effective.
The report released today by the IOM Committee on Treatment of PTSD
concluded among its key findings that exposure-based therapies such as
prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy have proven to
be effective treatments for PTSD, while more research is needed on
pharmacotherapy to determine its effectiveness.
“VA is pleased to see IOM agrees with us that exposure-based therapies are
effective treatments for PTSD,” said Dr. Antonette Zeiss, VA’s Deputy
Chief of Mental Health Services. “VA has been making the therapies readily
available, even before the IOM report was released.”
Prolonged exposure therapy utilizes techniques to promote confrontation
with feared objects, situations, memories and images. It involves use of
psychoeducation, breathing retraining, prolonged exposure to the memory of
the trauma through imaginary reliving, and repeated exposure to safe
situations being avoided because of traumatic fear.
Cognitive process therapy involves psychoeducation; written exposure in
which patients write about the impact of trauma on themselves and others
and interpret traumatic events; challenging patient’s interpretations of
traumatic events and cognitive restructuring of their beliefs that have
been disrupted by traumatic events.
Article continues below:
MONEY TALKS NEWS
VIDEOS -- MONEY SAVING-TIPS FOR YOU
(use left/right arrows in screen to view more videos)
|
Dr. Zeiss said VA began developing training about
a year ago for its mental health professionals in the use of
exposure-based therapies, starting with cognitive processing therapy and
now including prolonged exposure therapy.
In fact, VA’s Dr. Patricia Resick, head of the Women’s Division of the
National Center for PTSD in Boston, is a leading researcher in cognitive
processing therapy. And the leading researcher in prolonged exposure
therapy is Dr. Edna Foa, who helps train VA mental health professionals.
Dr. Zeiss said VA also concurs with other key conclusions of the report
that more research is needed about pharmacotherapy as an effective
treatment. It is important to note, Dr. Zeiss said, the IOM conclusion
states only more research is needed, not that medications have been found
to be ineffective.
VA provides treatment for PTSD through cognitive and exposure-based
therapies, with the use of drugs approved by the Food and Drug
Administration.
VA is a recognized international leader in treatment and research for
PTSD. In 1989, the Department created the National Center for PTSD, which
promotes research, trains health care professionals and serves as an
information resource for researchers and clinicians around the world.
-------------------------
Larry Scott --
Don't forget to read all of today's VA
News Flashes (click here)
Click here to make VA Watchdog dot Org your homepage
email Larry
(go
back to VA Watchdog dot Org Home Page) |
VA Watchdog Stuff
cups, hats, shirts
click here to
support the site
|
